Letter-writing campaign for Azer children

It took just minutes to fill a mailbox to capacity Sunday evening at the Comox Centre Mall, as volunteers and friends of the Azer family completed a weekend letter-writing campaign.

More than 1,200 letters were mailed to various federal government ministers in order to “put a little bit of pressure on the government to step up and get these kids back home. They’re found but not free, so we want to overwhelm with a lot of volume,” explained Tammy Williamson, one of the organizers.

In August, Comox Valley resident Alison Azer received word her ex-husband – Dr. Saren Azer (also known as Salahaddin Mahummudi-Azer) – hadn’t returned to Canada from a court-approved trip to Europe with her children Sharvahn, 11, Rojevahn, 9, Dersim, 7 and Meitan, 3.

Comox Valley RCMP sought and obtained a Canada Wide Warrant of Arrest for Azer – who practised at St. Joseph’s General Hospital in Comox – in relation to charges of Abduction in Contravention of a Custody Order, contrary to Section 282 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

INTERPOL also lists the children as missing on their website.

Family spokesperson Jody Korchinski confirmed in an email to The Record earlier this month Alison does now know the location of her children.

“This is a letter writing campaign to support Alison to bring her children home. The community is on board. Nine-and-a-half out of 10 people already know about it; they’ve signed four letters to the minister each,” said fellow organizer Cheryl Newton.

“The desire that we have to get these kids home – we want to get these kids home. It’s not right.”

Sadie Amazzal, one of Sharvahn Azer’s elementary school friends, said she participated in the letter writing campaign because “…she’s my best friend and I’ve been really heartbroken.”

“I really miss them … I think they don’t deserve to be held captive by the dad. They deserve way better then (how) they’ve been treated.”